Newcomers Storm to Victory in San Leandro Elections

With all 44 precincts reporting, Mack-Rose had 49.87% of the vote (7,887) to Davis' 37.36% (5,908). Candidates Don Grundmann and Mark Tichy each had less than 10% of the vote.

Almonte had an even larger lead over Richards with 58.41% of the vote (9,027) to Richards' 40.42% (6,246).

Davis currently holds the Area 5 School Board seat, but decided to run for the At-Large seat after Diana Prola filed papers to run for the Area 5 seat. Davis became a member of the School Board when he was unopposed in 2004. Current At-Large School Board member Stephen Cassidy endorsed Mack-Rose to replace him after he decided not to run for re-election.

Richards has held the Area 1 School Board seat since 2000. Almonte is the first opponent Richards has faced since he was unopposed in 2000.

In the race for San Leandro City Council District 2, Ursula Reed defeated San Leandro School Board member Linda Perry. With all 48 precincts reporting, Reed had 56.19% of the vote (11,343) while Perry had 43.03% (8,686).

Reed becomes the first African-American to be elected to the San Leandro City Council without first being appointed. Previous African-Americans on the City Council include Surlene Grant, who was appointed in August 1998, and Orval "OB" Badger, who was appointed in July 2001.

Grant currently holds the District 2 City Council seat and supported Reed to replace her.

Not only did San Leandreans want change on a presidential scale; they wanted it on a local scale as well. I'm glad to see the old guard of San Leandro politics quickly being ushered out; as new, smart, engaged people are joining the school board and city council. I can only hope we have these kind of people to run against Santos, Gregory, Stephens, Souza and Starcosiack in the next city council election--especially our disgrace of a mayor, Tony Santos.